WyomingWyoming would fund forest health projects through grants
The measure provides grants for public-interest forest projects, with $3.5 million set aside and limits on how much each grant may cover.
What it does
Nonprofit and government organizations could receive grants for public-interest forest health projects, but they would need matching support and attorney general approval.
The measure provides $3.5 million for forest health grants, keeps unused money available, and requires an annual report on awards and projects.
The act would take effect immediately after the required steps for it to become law are completed.
Argument forGrant funding could help organizations reduce wildfire risks and improve water, wildlife, and livestock habitat when they provide matching support.
Argument againstOrganizations may struggle to complete projects because grants would cover only part of the cost, with an even lower limit for federal land.
More detail
The state forester would run a grant program for eligible forest health projects. Nonprofit and government organizations could seek grants for projects on state, federal, local government, or private land. Projects must serve the public interest and improve forest health through activities such as reducing wildfire risk, improving water or habitat, or increasing forest products. Grants generally could cover no more than 75 percent of project costs, with other money or in-kind contributions covering the rest. Grants for projects on federal land could cover no more than 50 percent of project costs. The attorney general must review and approve each grant.
The state forester would report each year on awarded grants, while money for the program would be kept in a dedicated account. Reports would go to the joint agriculture, state and public lands, and water resources interim committee and would list grant amounts and funded projects. Money in the account could be used only for authorized forest health grants and implementation of the program. Unused account money would remain available, and interest and other earnings would return to the account. The $3.5 million appropriation could not be used for another purpose without further legislative authorization. The state forester would report no later than September 1 each year; the appropriation would remain available until further legislative action, rather than lapse at the end of a fiscal period.
The act would take effect when all steps required for it to become law are complete. This timing rule applies to all provisions of the act, including the grant program, account, reporting duty, and appropriation. The act would become effective immediately after the required constitutional steps are completed.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 8Assigned Chapter Number 99Latest
- Mar 8Governor Mark Gordon Signed HEA No. 0041Became Law
- Mar 7S President Signed HEA No. 0041
- Mar 6H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0041
- Vote recorded HB0078JC001: S Adopted HB0078JC001: 29-0-2-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded HB0078JC001: H Adopted HB0078JC001: 52-0-9-1-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Assigned Number HEA No. 0041
- Mar 5S Appointed JCC01 Members
- Vote recorded H Concur:Failed 26-33-3-0-0. Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 5H Appointed JCC01 Members
- Mar 5H Concur:Failed 26-33-3-0-0
- Mar 3H Received for Concurrence
- Vote recorded S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-0-1-0-0Passed Senate
- Mar 2S 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 27S COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 25S Placed on General File
- Vote recorded S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 25S02 - Appropriations:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0Minor
- Feb 24:Rerefer to S02 - AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24S05 - Agriculture:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 23S Introduced and Referred to S05 - AgricultureMinor
- Feb 23S Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 22H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-0-1-0-0Passed House
- Vote recorded H 3rd Reading:Passed 61-0-1-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 20H 2nd Reading:PassedMinor
- Feb 19H COW:PassedMinor
- Feb 11H Placed on General File
- Vote recorded H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11H02 - Appropriations:Recommend Do Pass 7-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 10:Rerefer to H02 - AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10H05 - Agriculture:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0Minor
- Feb 9H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture 62-0-0-0-0Minor
- Vote recorded H Introduced and Referred to H05 - Agriculture 62-0-0-0-0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5H Received for IntroductionMinor
- Feb 2Bill Number AssignedIntroduced
Environment & EnergyEmergency ManagementMental Health